Rejuvenated six-year-old Adamon has backed up his last start Flemington win with a barnstorming victory in the Wagga Town Plate (1200m).
The gelding is prepared by rookie trainer Nathan McPherson at Mornington and is one of five horses the 24-year-old has in work.
Punters ignored Adamon’s win at Flemington last month at $26 and again sent him out at long odds, this time $19.
He was near the tail of the field on the home turn but unleashed a withering sprint under the urgings of Blake Shinn to beat Vilakazi Street ($6 eq fav) by 1-1/2 lengths with a half length to Onthelookout ($9) third.
“I had my first runner in December and I’ve had three winners now,” McPherson said.
“I’ve got five in work and 12 on the books.
“I’m starting to kick some goals and am about to move to a new property tomorrow (Friday) about eight miles from the Mornington track and I’ll have stables for all 12 horses.
“Adamon is a massive credit to himself. He has a real big heart and I thought he was well over the odds after his last win.
“I thought he would be close to favourite.”
McPherson wandered in and out of racing for a few years after deciding riding wasn’t for him.
He backed himself to become a trainer with the aid of his uncle Wayne Ware, the owner of Adamon.
Shinn said he hadn’t planned to be as far back as he was but was pleased it worked out in the end.
“They went like scalded cats,” Shinn said.
“I was going to try to be a little bit closer but I let him be comfortable and he showed a really good turn of foot.”
The sprint was the feature on the first day of the Wagga Wagga carnival with the $140,000 Listed Gold Cup the centrepiece on Friday.
